Daily Archives: April 5, 2013

The Rooster Pulled the Trigger!

Christian Life, , ,

THE ROOSTER PULLED THE TRIGGER!

“Arresting Jesus, they marched Him off and took Him into the house of the Chief Priest. Peter followed, but at a safe distance. In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One of the serving maids…noticed him…and said, ‘This man was with Him.’
“He denied it, ‘Woman, I don’t even know Him.’

“A short time later someone else noticed him and said, ‘You’re one of them.’
But Peter denied it, ‘Man, I am not.’

“About an hour later someone else spoke up, really adamant: ‘He’s got to have been with Him! He’s got “Galilean” written all over him.’

“Peter said, ‘Man I don’t know what you are talking about.’ At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed. Just them, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him…He went out and cried and cried and cried.” Luke 22:54-62 (The Message).

Would Peter ever forget that night? Every time a rooster crowed, for the rest of his life he would remember.

I guess that many thousands of sermons have been preached on this passage of Scripture over the centuries, mostly focusing on Peter’s denial and Jesus’ forgiveness. After all, it’s a message of grace that everyone needs to hear.

But God’s grace comes to us in many different ways. Sometimes we identify God’s grace as His direct intervention in our lives; miraculous healing, forgiveness, times when we cope when we have no strength of our own.

At that moment in Peter’s life, I am sure he would like to have killed that rooster because it triggered a memory that brought him to utter despair. What if Jesus had not warned him in advance that it would happen? Would the sound of the crowing rooster have had as much impact on him as it did? Probably not.

He would have felt bad about denying Jesus but, because of the warning, every time he heard the rooster, he would also have heard his own retort at Jesus’ warning, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to jail and to death.’ It was not Jesus’ words that haunted him as much as his own.

Peter did not know himself. He had no idea of his weak and cowardly heart until the crowing rooster pulled the trigger! He had a long journey ahead and a lot of growing to do before he could say those same words and mean them.

The rooster was only being a rooster but, for Peter, his voice was a forceful reminder of his fallible humanity and his need for God’s grace because he could not do it on his own. It was his failure that caused him to be aware of his constant need of God and caused him to rest in the power of Jesus to give him strength to stand under testing.

Peter could not have penned the words in his letter to believers under pressure had he not experienced what he did on that terrible night. Only tested faith can come out pure, like gold that has gone through fire. Had Peter not fallen that night, he could have claimed victory through his own will-power, but his crash was the best thing that ever happened to him.

The sound of the crowing rooster was a trigger, not of failure and despair but of hope, a reminder of God’s grace that forgives, restores and gives another chance to those who discover, through experience, how weak they really are, and who learn to rest in the strength that God supplies.

The End of the Beginning!

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THE END OF THE BEGINNING!

“By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours — a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, ‘Father, I place my life in your hands.’ Then He breathed His last.

“When the captain there saw what happened, he honoured God. ‘This man was innocent. A good man and innocent.’

“All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. Those who knew Jesus well, and the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.” Luke 23:44-49 (The Message).

So many unusual things happened that day! Those who were responsible for His death and those who came to watch the show, had witnessed many a crucifixion (after all, they did not have television!), but never had they seen a man die like this. Even the Roman captain said so!

Why did they slink away, grieving? What was it about the bloodied corpse suspended on a cross by a few nails that got to them? They heckled Him when He was writhing in agony, but now they left because they could no longer look at Him. Was His dead body a silent rebuke to their callous hearts? They got what they wanted and now they could not reverse it.

Why was there total darkness for three hours? This was much more than an eclipse of the sun, which usually lasts no more than a few minutes? Was the Father shielding His Son’s suffering from prying eyes? Was He turning away from the sight of His Son absorbing the sin of the world? Was creation responding to this crime against its Creator? Was this symbolic of the darkest deed human beings had ever perpetrated against God?

And, back in the city, something unusual happened in the Temple. The thick curtain separating the Holy Place, where the priests did their daily rituals, from the Most Holy Place, was torn in two from top to bottom. For anyone other than the high priest, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement, to enter the Most Holy Place, let alone see into it, would have been instant death.

It was in the Most Holy Place that the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden box overlaid with gold and decorated with two golden angels with wings touching, stood, upon which a mysterious light glowed between the overshadowing angelic wings. This light was the visible representation of God’s presence.

The Jews believed that the curtain represented God’s clothing, protecting them from His awesome presence. Was the supernatural ripping of the curtain at the moment of Jesus’ death a message? Was God saying that He was now accessible to all people because Jesus had atoned for their sin?

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is His body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV).

There is significance in Jesus’ final loud cry. The Hebrew people had been taught to give the first fruits of their harvest, roughly one fortieth, to the high priest, which took care of his family’s needs, but also guaranteed God’s blessing on the rest of their harvest. This became an offering (terumah) when it was lifted up to God and placed in the hands of the high priest. This was symbolic of a greater harvest of people who would be gathered in and resurrected with Jesus on His return.

“But Christ had indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-21 (NIV).

Likewise, Jesus was ‘lifted up’ (John 12:32), and He placed Himself into His Father’s hands (Luke 23:46). He became both a sin offering and a ‘terumah’ offering, guaranteeing a harvest of believers who would be raised to life in the presence of God with an incorruptible body like His own.

This was the end of Jesus’ earthly life but the beginning of eternal life for all who believe in Him.

The Battle Is On!

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THE BATTLE IS ON!

“Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers and the others and said, ‘You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing in your charge. And neither did Herod, for he has sent Him back here with a clean bill of health. It’s clear He’s done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving of death. I’m going to warn Him to watch His step and let Him go.’

“At that the crowd went wild: ‘Kill Him! Give us Barabbas!’ (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder).” Luke 23:13-19 (The Message).

Pilate’s true colours begin to show in this exchange with the Jewish religious hierarchy. Their resolve to kill Jesus was pitted against his resolve to set Him free. Into the mix came Pilate’s fear of a riot in Jerusalem and underneath that, his fear for his own skin.

His first step towards defeat was his attempt to negotiate with Jesus’ accusers. He was the highest Roman authority in Jerusalem and he had the last word. Why did he try to enter into an agreement with them? He could have simply given them his verdict, released Jesus and that would have been that. But he did not. He tried to appease them by bringing Herod into the picture, (so much for Herod’s part in this ‘justice’ system!), and trying to convince them that he and Herod were in agreement regarding His innocence.

His approach through reason met with a barrage of violent opposition. The bottom line was: ‘We want Jesus dead. Justice does not come into it any more. Even if we have to trade His life for a dangerous man’s, we will bulldoze you into agreeing to the death sentence.’

And so, spurred on by their religious leaders, the mob began their campaign of intimidation. Their first weapon was unrestrained behaviour coupled with volume and vehemence. They also had a big gun – the practice of releasing one prisoner at Passover. The other gospels state that the initiative came from Pilate. He offered Barabbas, knowing that he was a violent criminal, and hoping that the mob would choose Jesus because He gave no evidence of being dangerous in spite of their accusations.

That plan did not work. In fact it only seemed to add fuel to the flames. Instead of appeasing them, he added to his problem by offering to release into society a man who had already taken lives. It was becoming more and more difficult for him to put the brakes on. Even his offer to have Jesus beaten was a pathetic substitute for what they were demanding.

Behind this tussle between civil and religious authorities lay the real battle, but we must never think that it was war between two evenly matched powers, God and Satan. Amazingly, the scales were tipped against Jesus from the beginning and He knew it. He was also a willing party to it because God’s passion to rescue mankind from the devil’s clutches had to be satisfied through Jesus’ sacrificial death, blood for blood, an innocent man for the guilt of mankind because that was the only way for the debt of man’s sin to be paid.

“‘This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead…'” Acts 2:23-24a (NIV).

Peter was there and he saw it all. Could there be any clearer statement than his? “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV). After all, there was no contest. It was Pilate’s decision and he was responsible for it, as were those who yelled for Jesus’ death. But God had the last word and, through Jesus’ death, exposed and vanquished the devil once for all!

Sweat Like Blood

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SWEAT LIKE BLOOD

“Leaving there, He went, as He often did, to Mount Olives. The disciples followed Him. When they arrived at the place, He said, ‘Pray that you don’t give in to temptation.’

“He pulled away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?’ At once an angel from heaven was at His side, strengthening Him. He prayed all the harder. Sweat, wrung from Him like drops of blood, poured off His face.” Luke 22:39-44 (The Message).

This is a very different Jesus from the one we have been accompanying through the Gospel of Luke. He was a man of many emotions, as we would expect from someone who was the perfect representative of mankind. Unlike many men, He did not ignore, deny or hide His emotions. He felt compassion, He rejoiced, He wept, He laughed, He grieved, He got angry and He got frustrated. Luke describes Him as a very human Jesus but also, always, the true Son of God.

This is the first time He showed His emotion regarding His approaching death. The dark shadow of the cross fell across Him in the olive grove. “Gethsemane” means “press” reflecting the process by which the precious oil was extracted from the olives that grew there. He was feeling the press of His impending sacrifice.

There were many “last times” for Him in the next few hours. The Passover meal He had just shared with His disciples was the last time He would eat with them. These moments would be the last time He would fellowship with His Father in the solitude of the garden and in freedom.

The overwhelming weight of what was looming was crushing Him like the press that crushed the olives. Only the pure Son of God knew what it meant to become sin for us. Only He felt the terrifying prospect of separation from His Father with whom He had lived in intimate and unbroken fellowship as a human being for thirty three years, of being cut off, abandoned and left alone in His time of greatest need.

Unless He was able to come to terms with, and fully embrace what lay ahead in the next few hours, the battle would be lost before it even began. His entire human life was consumed by this one purpose – to do the Father’s will. “Then I said, ‘Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God. Your law is within my heart.'” Psalm 40:7-8 (NIV). Now was the time to put His purpose to the ultimate test,

There is nothing wrong with the process by which He came to submission to the Father. There was no rebellion in His heart, not reluctance to submit, only the horror of His impending ordeal. He was to embrace His Father’s will by submitting to the worst that human beings could do to Him at the instigation of His arch enemy, the devil, without resistance, either physical or emotional.

This was a struggle so severe that His blood began to flow even before His skin was pierced by the whip, the thorns, the nails or the spear. Our minds cannot conceive of the suffering it meant, not only for Him but for the Father who loved and delighted in His Son beyond anything we can imagine.

In that moment, in the full understanding of what lay ahead, Jesus embraced the Father’s will once again, and the deal was sealed. From that time on, He was secure in the strength of His submission and the knowledge that He would overcome — and He did. No amount of torture or torment could remove from Him the peace that surrender had secured. He was the only one, in spite of being the prisoner and the one in trial, in absolute control of the situation.

“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made not threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness…” 1 Peter 2:23-24a (NIV).

This is a great lesson for us to learn. Jesus won the battle before it began by embracing the Father’s will. He was not caught out or taken unawares. Unlike Him, we do not know what lies up ahead but, as we live in daily submission to God, we will be ready to face our own ordeals without resistance if we entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly.

“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1 Peter 4:19 (NIV).

Pilate Caved In

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PILATE CAVED IN

“Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again.

“But they kept shouting back, ‘Crucify! Crucify Him.’

“He tried a third time.’But for what crime?’ I’ve found nothing in Him deserving death.’ I’m going to warn Him to watch His step and let Him go.’

“But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that He be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown into prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.” Luke 23:20-25 (The Message).

And so, finally, the mob prevailed. They wore Pilate down until he gave in to shut them up and to keep the peace.

We would do well, at this moment, to consider their choice. Because of the custom to release a prisoner at Passover, they had to choose between two men, Barabbas, a murderer, and Jesus, the Son of God, who had come to give life, not take it.

“Barabbas” means “son of the father”. Of whose father was he the son? On one occasion the Jewish leaders had an altercation with Jesus. He had promised them freedom if they obeyed His teaching. They protested. “‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?'” John 8:33 (NIV).

Jesus responded with a shocking statement: “‘If you were Abraham’s children…then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I have heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father did.'” John 8:38b-41 (NIV).

They protested that God was their Father. Jesus’ response was, ‘Prove it. Who do you resemble?’

“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here…Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there was no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.'” John 8:42-44 (NIV).

The choice of the mob is understandable when we recognise who Barabbas was, the “son” of his father the devil and of the same family as those who wanted him freed. They were all inadvertently in league with one another because, on their own unwitting admission, Jesus’ accusers were also sons of the devil. They displayed the nature of the devil because he was a murderer from the beginning.

Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. How true was His claim? To be the “son of” in Jewish thought was to be from the same source and to display the same nature as the father, a sort of “chip off the old block”.

How true was this claim? Was Jesus connected to His Father as His source? Did He display the same nature as the Father? “‘Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?'” We have spent months travelling with Jesus through the Gospel of Luke. We have to answer Jesus’ challenge with a resounding “No!” Everything Jesus said and did revealed His union with the Father and His revelation of the Father’s nature. He was always a giver, never a taker of life.

By their choice of Barabbas, the Jewish religious leaders and the mob they led, acknowledged that the devil was their “father” and admitted their alienation from God. Pilate, in his weakness, joined hands with them.

We have already made our choice, Barabbas or Jesus. It all depends on which father we display – the devil or God. To be against or indifferent to Jesus means that we are also of the devil and stand condemned as Pilate did.